Many skilled professions use a certification process to establish clear standards of competency that practitioners are expected to meet. Doctors must pass board certification exams, public accountants must pass the CPA exam, and even automotive specialists have certification exams. They're administered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). The ASE offers certifications for mechanics in several fields, as well as certification for parts specialists.

The Parts Specialist

Amateur and professional mechanics rely on parts specialists to provide them with the parts they need to repair and maintain cars, light trucks and heavier commercial vehicles. In dealerships, parts specialists must maintain an inventory of commonly used parts so mechanics can perform repairs quickly and get customers back on the road. It's a fine balancing act, because stocking too many parts ties up the dealership's assets. In retail parts outlets the picture is complicated by the need to balance high-priced original parts with lower-cost aftermarket parts, and to stock accessories and upgrades that are trendy locally.

ASE Eligibility

To be eligible for ASE certification, candidates must have at least two years of experience as a parts specialist. Working as a mechanic or as an estimator, or service writer, doesn't qualify as experience toward parts certification. Some trade and technical schools offer parts counter training programs, and candidates can count that formal training as one year of experience. The ASE offers three separate certifications for parts specialists, and a candidate's work experience should be in the certification specialty area.

ASE Certifications

Other certifications have been offered at various times in the past, but as of 2013 the ASE offered just three parts specialist credentials. The P1 examination is for specialists working in medium and heavy truck dealerships, stocking parts for in-house use and sale to customers. The P2 examination is for automobile parts specialists at wholesale and retail auto-parts outlets. The P4 exam is specifically for General Motors Parts Consultants, and candidates must have a strong working knowledge of GM's parts-ordering system.

Testing Process

Candidates must register for their chosen certification exam, paying the necessary fees and providing any documentation needed to prove experience and education. The tests are delivered by computer, and take approximately 1 1/2 hours to complete. They range from 75 to 85 questions, covering communications skills, sales skills, inventory management, and knowledge of automotive systems and parts. Candidates who pass receive a certificate for display purposes, insignia for uniforms, and a wallet card. The credential is valid for five years, then candidates must recertify by passing a second, shorter examination.

About the Author

Fred Decker is a trained chef and certified food-safety trainer. Decker wrote for the Saint John, New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, and has been published in Canada's Hospitality and Foodservice magazine. He's held positions selling computers, insurance and mutual funds, and was educated at Memorial University of Newfoundland and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.